Facade of the SRA building in Quezon City. Image from SRA website
BACOLOD CITY – Three sugar planters groups on Sunday welcomed the appointment by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of a new Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) acting administrator and two members of its board.
“We wish them well. We hope they maintain the consultative nature of decision-making at SRA,” said Enrique Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP); Raymond Montinola, president of the Confederation of Sugar Producers (Confed); and Danilo Abelita, president of the Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers (Panayfed).
The groups said they hope the new SRA officials will closely monitor the sugar supply and demand situation, and will make the necessary decisions, including the possibility of additional importation, to ensure stable sugar supply and fair sugar prices for both consumers and producers.
President Marcos Jr. named David John Thaddeus Alba as SRA acting administrator, and Pablo Luis Azcona as board member representing the sugar planters and Ma. Mitzi Mangwag as board member representing the sugar millers.
They also thanked Aurelio “Bodie” Valderrama Jr., who was replaced as the planters’ representative to the SRA Board.
“We thank Mr. Valderrama for his forthright and selfless service to the sugar industry during his brief stint in the SRA,” they said.
The SRA passed Sugar Order No. 4 allowing the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar to address the country’s looming sugar shortage.
However, it was invalidated since it did not have the permission of the President.
Rojas said the new SRA administrator and board members “are all capable of the responsibilities of their respective positions.”
“We hope they will continue to consult all industry stakeholders in the decision-making process. We wish them well in the discharge of their duties,” he said.
The new SRA officials will take their oaths before the President at the Malacañang Palace on Monday afternoon.